Western Kansas world., 1887-01-15

menolng tnat extra0rUnary powers be vested II
the executive. The exercise of such would b,
distastefal to me, and would be moro likely e
bring reproach than honor to any chief magic
trate. 1t occurs to me. however. that In case
perform manifest duties, or undertake them Will
the evident Iorpose OF defeating the ends of jus
tice it is not sufficient that the penalties Of thu
matters Of Importance are at stake, come ont
, should have authority to cause the duties neg
lected or slightsd to be faithfully performed.
to be repeated 1t has been the misfortune ol
some of our new counties that the machinery Of
their governments was put in motion BY con.
fsderatS1s 3s OF h1 Th11prncplsd men Who have an an
credit Of the counties for their own corrupt pur-
poses. Crimes of this character. a. we'll as those
against the lives and property OF peacable citi
officers whose duty it was to prosecute the often
ders have either been indifferent to the offenses
or implicated in them"
Nothing was done at that time, nor has
any remedy since been provided, that would
volved on him by tho constitution. County
and city officers may abuse or fail to per-
form their lawful functions; they may aid,
Iabet or encourage persons who are daily
land hourly defying and violating the con-
Istitution and laws Of the state; they may
neglect or refuse to prosecute such offenders
even when the facts are brought to their
power to compel them to do their duty, nor
IT. punish them for refusing to do it, than has
any other citizen.
neither seek nor wish to exercise auto
cratic authority. do not believe that any
interest, either OF morality, Justice or law,
can or would be promoted by vesting any
officer with arbitrary power. But surely
some legal machinery ought to be provided
to enable the executive to fulfil the require
ments of the constitution, \, and compel local
officers to discharge the plain duties of their
lro 'ition.
That intoxicating liquors are sold, as
beverage, anywhere within the limits Of
Kansas, is not because Of faults in our laws
touching this question. Those laws, defec-
tive as they are in some features, are ample
enough in their directions, restriction and
penalties t. punish every person who either
sells or buys Liquors for unlawful purposes.
There is not town, city or neighborhood in
the state in which an illegal traffic in liquors
can be carried on for q single week II the
local officers discharge tho duties plainly
enjoined upon them by law, with zeal and
fidelity. Provide the necessary laws to cem-
pei local officers to discharge their sworn
dut 90, and to remove them when they neg
lect or refuse to do so, and there will be no
need to make many other changes In our
sts tutes. On the other hand, no matter
what amendments are made, nor what pro-
visi ns are added to the present laws, they
will be Intellectual 80 long a. the municipal
authorities of cities or counties can nulify or
d sregard them without ar Of removal tr
punishment.
RESULTS on PROHIBITION.
The public sentiment Of Kansas 10 over
whelmingly against tho Nquoe t1aE3o. Thou
posed prohibition, or doubted whether it
was ihe best method Of dealing With tho
LIQUOR traffic, have seen and frankly &C.
KNOWLEDGE it's benehoent results and it's
practical success. The temptations With
which the open saloon allured the youth of
petite for liquor, bred and nurtured within
it's walls by the treating custom; the vice,
crime, poverty, suffering and sorrow OF
which it is always the fruitful source-all
these evil results of the open saloon have
been abolished in Le&rly every town and
city of Kansas. There is not an observing
man in the state who DOES not know that
sas by prohibition. There is not truthful
man in the state who will not frankly ac-
knowledge this fact, no matter what his
opinions touching the policy Of prohibition
may have been. And firmly believe that
If the amendments to the law that have
suggested are made, and If authority is pro-
vided for compelling local officers to dis
within three months there viii not be an
open saloon in Kansas, and the sale OF in
tOxicatin0 liquors a. Q beverage Will be
practically abolished.
The growth of the railway system of Kan
sas, during the past two years, has been phe-
Fully 1880 miles of new road
have during that period been completed,
and since the first Of January, 1886, not less
Il N 1,10O miles have been finished. Many
OF che old lines have, also, been generally
1856, thirty one Of the counties of Kansas,
as then defined, had not mile Of railway
within their borders. To-day all except
fourteen of our one hundred counties are
by ono or more lines of railway,
and within six months at least seven addi-
tional counties viii be provided with rail
road facilities. There are at present, $3.50
limits Of the state.
This marvellous development OF our rail-
way system. gratifying as it is to tho pride |
Of every citizen, il nevertheless source OF |
just anxiety and apprehension. While ON |
great railway corp0l lati0ns are, in theory, |
The mere creatures OF tho state, they are |
really organized for the personal profit Of |
heir svners and managers, and, unless reg
ulated and controlled by just laws, they |
may exert their vast powers to injure or op |
press the people. It is, therefore, alike the
right and the duty Of the state to exert its
authority to protect each and all Of its citi-
zens against extortions or Determinations
BY the railways.
Experience has confirmed the opinion |
two years ago, that the commits
sioner system, with ample powers vested in |
The commission, is the best method of deal /
ing with, or regulating railroads. The
railroad commissioners of Kansas have
been able, without friction or serious diff
salty, not only to amicably adjust q very |
Iarge number of controversies. but to bring
about large and important reductions in
freight rates. During the fiscal year ended
June 30th, 1883, the gross receipts from
trsights, Of all railroads reporting to the
amounted TO $45 135, 33l 64.
During the fiscal year ended June 3Oth, 1886,
The freight traffic over the same roads ex-
seded that of 1888 fully 3,379. .351 tons, or
Is per cent. This largely increased tonnage
Vas, however, transported over the same
for the year ending June goth,
1896, at tota. charge OF $4l132, ,23406, or